My story has a happy ending because I was able to secure a second opinion.

In 1994 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which spread to my liver. My cancer was a Stage IV. In the winter of 1995 I was told that I had at least 12 visible tumors in my liver and that I should go home and think about the quality and not the quantity of my remaining days. I was devastated. But I did not go home and think about the quality of my remaining days. I went home and made appointments at five hospitals in three cities and, within a week, had found a physician with a different opinion who could offer me hope. My experience illustrates how important a second opinion was to me. Without one I might not be alive.

I think cancer patients are sometimes worried about asking for a second opinion for fear of offending their doctor. Most doctors, however, will not be offended, but they will want to be sure that if you do seek further advice, that it come from a qualified expert. When I needed help there were no Internet services available to help me. Today with MDExpert you can have access to leading physicians without having to travel from your home. The expertise I was able to secure for myself will now be available to all of us. Cancer is complicated. The doctor who can best help with your case may be across the country. MDExpert provides a reliable and efficient means for you to gain the benefit of that knowledge for a second opinion.
It could save your life.

Meg Gaines, JD, LLM
Director, Patient Advocacy Center
Associate Clinical Professor of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School